Tag: APC

The State Working Committee (SWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo on Monday passed a vote of confidence on its Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe and Secretary, Lawrence Okah.

The vote of confidence was conveyed in a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Peter Uwadiae-Enosorogbe, after an emergency meeting of the committee on Sunday in Benin.

Uwadiae-Enosorogbe said the members brainstormed and x-rayed how well the party had fared in the effort to wrestle power from the ruling party in the state.

He said the committee also saluted the governorship candidate of the party and his running mate for the Sept 21 election, Sen. Monday Okpekholo and Dennis Idahosa for their campaign drive.

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According to him, the committee acknowledges their efforts, which have become the envy of other political parties.

“It is a show of conviviality and robust strategic engagement aimed at detonating all the negative vices occasioned by the other political parties with a view to ensuring a resounding victory at the polls come Sept. 21, 2024.

Tenebe thanked members of the working committee and sued for the sustenance of this unity, as there was a lot to be done to ensure this much awaited victory.

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, on Sunday, September 1, received defectors from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State.

The defectors were led by the leader of the Askarawan Kwankwasiyya in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area and former chairman of Bagwai Local Government Area, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim Gogori.

Barau received the NNPP members at his Abuja residence, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir.

Alhaji Bala Uba Kulkul, a leader of Askarawan Kwankwasiyya in Dawakin Kudu LGA led 15 commanders of the movement to the APC.

With their defection, they have fussed into the Askarawan APC in Kano State.

Kulkul said they decided to dump the NNPP in view of the outstanding leadership style of the Deputy President of the Senate.

He pledged to mobilise their commanders in the 44 local government areas of Kano State to work for the APC at the grassroots.

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Barau, who is the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, thanked them, pledging that they would be treated equally like all other members of the APC.

He reiterated the commitment of the APC to address the challenges facing the country, urging all to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his efforts to return the country to the path of progress and prosperity.

Gogori said they decided to dump the NNPP over the failure of the party leaders to fulfill the pledges they made to them while joining the party.

Thanking them for returning to the APC, Barau said:” “I want to start by thanking Allah SWT for this development. APC is your home. You left and now you are back to your rightful place, the APC, the largest political party in Africa. Welcome back. Insha Allah, you won’t regret this action.”

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State for the September 21 election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, yesterday pledged to give interest free-loans to traders, when, not if, he becomes governor of Edo State on November 12 this year, thereby succeeding Governor Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Okpebholo also promised to help the traders in building the union’s secretariat on the plot of land donated to them by the late Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa 11.

He gave the assurance on Cook Road, Benin, the state capital, while on a campaign tour to traders of the New Building Materials Sellers’ Association.

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He said: “Any money invested in traders will not be lost. So, I will fulfil my promise immediately after I enter as Edo governor. I am coming to work for Edo people, and not to steal their money. Vote for APC on September 21, and freedom will come your way.”

The Director-General of APC’s governorship campaign council, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, while also speaking, told the traders that he brought Okpebholo, the representative of Edo Central Senatorial District, to talk to them on what he wanted to do, and also heard their demands.

Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), ahead of the November 16 governorship election.

The defectors joined SDP at a rally held at the party secretariat in Akure.

They dropped their APC membership cards and collected those of SDP.

The former APC members said they were not treated fairly in the party.

Leader of the defectors, Femi Ikoyi, an engineer; said they were a strong force in Ondo APC known as Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

Ikoyi said the defection would boost SDP’s chances at the polls.

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He said more APC and PDP members have indicated interest to join SDP, to ensure victory for its candidate, Otunba Bamidele Akingboye.

“I’m bringing my PDM people in APC to PDP. We know SDP candidate is the favourite of Abuja.

“Our aim is to win the election. What APC is doing to us at the local level is not encouraging. This is why we are moving to SDP. I am here to deliver Akingboye.”

Chairman of Ondo SDP, Gbenga Akinbunmi, who received the defectors, assured them of equal treatment in the party.

The SDP candidate congratulated the defectors for ‘joining the light.’

He promised to embark on inclusive governance if elected as governor.

The Director of Media of the Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Kassim Afegbua has called on the military and police authorities to prevent the rigging of the crucial poll.

Afegbua, a former Edo Commissioner for Information, yesterday in a press statement, accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of plotting to rig the crucial poll, with the use of members of his illegal Edo Security Network.

He said: “We adjure the military and police authorities to commission their men to carry out investigations concerning the serious allegations, to act appropriately, and forestall the breakdown of law and order in Edo State. We have been besieged with serious complaints by our members, and other citizens of the need to be particularly overarching about the safety of theirs, and our lives and property, for us all to successfully and peaceably exercise our franchise on September 21.

“The fears are becoming disquieting, hence our decision to alert the whole world of the sinister plots of Governor Godwin Obaseki. It is wrong, condemnable and abhorrent for a state government to be arming youths in the name of election. This is how the dreaded Boko Haram started and has grown to become the juggernaut besetting Nigeria to date. We must avoid such a situation in Edo.

“It is incumbent on the security authorities to act with legerity, even if it comes to banning the Edo Security Network and also arresting those illegally in possession of firearms altogether. The needful need be done, lest we allow a total breakdown of law and order in Edo State.”

The campaign council director also stated that members of the party were peace-loving, and would want the September 21 poll to be free and fair. He said: “In the APC, we preach one man, one vote, in the exercise of the franchise of every eligible voter in the state. We are concerned that Obaseki is deeply desperate and will espouse cut-throat gambits to plunge Edo State into avoidable crises, should the odds be against him.

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“Under a democracy, the freedom to choose is not only sacrosanct but indeed the least requirement for the exercise to bear that name. Let us leave the power with the people.

“Obaseki must be called to order immediately. We are for a peaceful process of election and nobody, no matter how highly placed, or in whatever station, will intimidate, repress, or withstand us.

“We are fervently calling on all concerned, to ensure that the election is devoid of bloodletting and killing by any party, by not leaving any wiggle room for artifice. A stitch in time saves nine. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun, and the military authorities should please act on this with alacrity, to arrest this grave concern.”

Afegbua also stated that Edo residents, especially the electorate, should be allowed to freely elect the next governor, without violence. He said: “We have been inundated with calls from well-meaning Edo electorate of Obaseki’s game plan to use threat, intimidation and harassment to disenfranchise Edo electorate from exercising their right at the election. We had decried before, the Edo State government’s activities of arms procurement. 

The pioneer national auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), George Moghalu, has officially resigned from the party, citing personal reasons for his departure.

Moghalu’s resignation put to rest the rumour of his move to quit the party since last year.

Moghalu, who previously served as the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), addressed his resignation in a formal letter.

The letter was directed to the APC chairman of Uruagu Ward 1 in Nnewi, Nnewi North local government area, Anambra State, and was also sent to the local government and state chairmen of the party.

The resignation letter, titled “Resignation of Membership of the APC,” officially marks the end of Moghalu’s association with the ruling party.

The compact resignation letter dated August 26, he personally signed, (copy sighted by our Correspondent in Abuja) reads: “I bring you good wishes of my dear family and to formally notify you of my decision to resign my membership of the APC with effect from today, August 26, 2024.

“It is my utmost desire and expectation that all of us will continue to maintain a cordial relationship that we have built together over the years.

“I wish you and all the members of the party the very best. Please, accept as always the assurance of my best regards,” he said.

The governorship candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Dr. Dennis Aikorogie has abandoned his political aspiration and dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aikorogie, who announced his defection at a rally held at Textile Mill Road, Benin City, the Edo State capital, said his decision was based on his desire to put the state on the path of progress again.

He said he decided to move from the NRM to the APC, because of the personality of the candidate of the main opposition party, Senator Monday Okpebholo, who currently represents Edo Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

Aikorogie said Okpebholo had a good track record, even before he became a senator. He noted that if Okpebholo could perform well as a senator, he could turn the fortunes of Edo around if elected as the next governor of the state.

He said: “I wish to lend my support for the governorship candidate of the APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, the focused and performing representative of Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

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“I am joining the APC with my teeming supporters within and outside my former party, to lend our support for the candidacy of Senator Okpebholo, because we believe in his person; he is reliable and he is a doer. This time round, we need an action governor and not somebody who talks, with no action.

“Senator Okpebholo has been relating well with the Edo people. With him as governor of the state, he will have sympathy for the people, and not someone from the blues, who wants to govern Edo, without any track records of human relationship or corporate social responsibility for the people.”

The former NRM governorship candidate, who moved with over 5,000 of his followers to the APC, admonished Edo residents not to be deterred by happenings at the federal level but should trust in the ability of Okpebholo.

He said: “My advice is for Edo residents to join hands and vote in the APC. I believe that in the new administration of Okpebholo, the state will make progress. We are going to experience economic development, youth employment, infrastructure development and lots more. We must redeem Edo State from corporate brigandage.”

Aikorogie also urged Edo residents, especially the electorate, not to waste their votes, but to vote wisely for Okpebholo on September 21, to succeed Governor Godwin Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on November 12.